I’d just like to pay tribute to Wynford Ellis Owen, whose life was nearly completely wrecked by prescription drugs and alcohol. He used that insight into what addiction involves and the lengths that people will go to to promote the cause of the need to tackle addiction in gambling. So, I think it’s really important that we respond to the work that has been done by Wynford Ellis Owen and others by ensuring that we bear down on addiction, which is absolutely wrecking people’s lives. I’ve met constituents who’ve gambled away the proceeds of two houses and a private business, who cannot even dare to get the bus into town because they know that they will stop off at one of these fixed-odds betting terminals.

I think we must change the planning laws so that the presumption where there is an application for yet another betting business—that the presumption will be on refusal, unless we can prove, or it can prove, that it will do no harm. That is my big ask to the Minister today.